Mariano Rivera sidelined with injury, out of All-Star Game

OAKLAND, Calif. — Mariano Rivera won’t pitch in the All-Star Game, and his availability for the remainder of the first half is questionable because of a sore right knee and an oblique issue.

“I’ve been pitching hurt. My knee. My side,” the Yankees’ 40-year-old closer said Tuesday evening. “I’d prefer to take these days off and make sure I’m ready for the second half.”

Rivera spoke just before the Yankees played the Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Including Tuesday, the Yanks had six more games until the All-Star break, and Rivera was to be one of at least six Yankees participating in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at Anaheim, Calif.

“I won’t be able to participate in the All-Star Game,” Rivera said. “It’s hard. But it’s a decision I have to make for myself, and for the sake of the team.”

Manager Joe Girardi had already planned to stay away from using Rivera on Tuesday night, but he didn’t seem hesitant toward using the closer if necessary tonight.

Overall, “Mo just felt the four days (over the break) would do him good, and I support him.’’

Rivera suggested he was battling some patella tendinitis in the knee, and mentioned the possibility of fluid in the knee. He also said the oblique issue — which cropped up a month ago — was similar to the injury that has placed Sergio Mitre on the disabled list.

Asked if he could pitch for the Yankees prior to the break, Rivera said he’d leave that up to Girardi.

“I will always want to pitch. But it’s definitely something we have to take care of,” Rivera said.

For now, Rivera feels rest will be sufficient.

He dismissed the idea of a stay on the disabled list, and added that his knee did not require draining. But there is inflammation in the knee, which first surfaced about 10 days ago at Dodger Stadium.

During the Yankees’ 4-2 road trip through Arizona and Los Angeles, Rivera twice pitched two innings in a game and came up with victories on June 23 and June 27.

If Rivera is to pitch again before the break, he won’t be tossing multiple innings.

Later in the year, “There will be times when you have to [pitch two innings],” Rivera said.

“But now, I don’t think it’s wise to do it. And Joe and the whole coaching staff have done a tremendous job with me, because it’s only twice that I’ve done it this year.”

Rivera threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to save Monday night’s 3-1 victory at the Coliseum. A day earlier, he gave up three singles against Toronto at Yankee Stadium and blew just his second save of the year.

The Yankees rallied back to beat the Blue Jays in 10 innings.

Rivera has 19 saves and a 1.08 ERA in 33 appearances this year, covering 33 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .140 against him, and he’s walked just six batters (one intentionally) with 32 strikeouts.

But Rivera said he pitched through similar oblique pain during his great success in last year’s postseason, including the World Series, but the issue wasn’t made public.

As for the knee issue, Rivera couldn’t pinpoint one particular outing in which the pain occurred. But over the past three days, Rivera has not shagged in the outfield. Plus, “I haven’t done any running,” he said.

Though Rivera believes strongly that rest is all that’s required, “it’s definitely something we have to take care of,” he said.

Posada returns

After missing Monday’s game due to a strained left ring finger, Jorge Posada was at catcher. He was batting seventh for the first time this year, as Girardi continued with his experiment of leading off Brett Gardner vs. right-handers, with Derek Jeter batting second.

Briefs

Alfredo Aceves received a third epidural for his aching lower back…For a second straight game, Nick Swisher served at DH, with Colin Curtis in right field.

Mariano Rivera sidelined with injury, out of All-Star Game

OAKLAND, Calif. — Mariano Rivera won’t pitch in the All-Star Game, and his availability for the remainder of the first half is questionable because of a sore right knee and an oblique issue.

“I’ve been pitching hurt. My knee. My side,” the Yankees’ 40-year-old closer said Tuesday evening. “I’d prefer to take these days off and make sure I’m ready for the second half.”

Rivera spoke just before the Yankees played the Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Including Tuesday, the Yanks had six more games until the All-Star break, and Rivera was to be one of at least six Yankees participating in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at Anaheim, Calif.

“I won’t be able to participate in the All-Star Game,” Rivera said. “It’s hard. But it’s a decision I have to make for myself, and for the sake of the team.”

Manager Joe Girardi had already planned to stay away from using Rivera on Tuesday night, but he didn’t seem hesitant toward using the closer if necessary tonight.

Overall, “Mo just felt the four days (over the break) would do him good, and I support him.’’

Rivera suggested he was battling some patella tendinitis in the knee, and mentioned the possibility of fluid in the knee. He also said the oblique issue — which cropped up a month ago — was similar to the injury that has placed Sergio Mitre on the disabled list.

Asked if he could pitch for the Yankees prior to the break, Rivera said he’d leave that up to Girardi.

“I will always want to pitch. But it’s definitely something we have to take care of,” Rivera said.

For now, Rivera feels rest will be sufficient.

He dismissed the idea of a stay on the disabled list, and added that his knee did not require draining. But there is inflammation in the knee, which first surfaced about 10 days ago at Dodger Stadium.

During the Yankees’ 4-2 road trip through Arizona and Los Angeles, Rivera twice pitched two innings in a game and came up with victories on June 23 and June 27.

If Rivera is to pitch again before the break, he won’t be tossing multiple innings.

Later in the year, “There will be times when you have to [pitch two innings],” Rivera said.

“But now, I don’t think it’s wise to do it. And Joe and the whole coaching staff have done a tremendous job with me, because it’s only twice that I’ve done it this year.”

Rivera threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to save Monday night’s 3-1 victory at the Coliseum. A day earlier, he gave up three singles against Toronto at Yankee Stadium and blew just his second save of the year.

The Yankees rallied back to beat the Blue Jays in 10 innings.

Rivera has 19 saves and a 1.08 ERA in 33 appearances this year, covering 33 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .140 against him, and he’s walked just six batters (one intentionally) with 32 strikeouts.

But Rivera said he pitched through similar oblique pain during his great success in last year’s postseason, including the World Series, but the issue wasn’t made public.

As for the knee issue, Rivera couldn’t pinpoint one particular outing in which the pain occurred. But over the past three days, Rivera has not shagged in the outfield. Plus, “I haven’t done any running,” he said.